There is quite a bit of buzz going around about easy ways to increase likes on your Facebook fan page. While I’m not going to get into the more sinister methods, and those who use them, I AM going to tell you a great way to increase them on your own – add an incentive.
If everything on your fan page is available to everyone, then there is no incentive to click that like button. Give your fans a little gift for liking you, and they’ll love you for it!
If you want to include a “like” incentive on your fan page, here’s how can you add it to your page:
Decide what you will make available as a download. Is there a pattern you are always asked for? A certain tutorial that has been a hit on your site? Find out what people would be interested in downloading from you and get creating! It may even be as easy as copying over a specific blog post. Like I said, most of the information in my download is readily available on my site. It’s just more convenient to have it in a nice printable version!
Create the document in a publisher or word processing program and save it as a PDF. Upload the document to your website. If you are on a self-hosted WordPress blog installation, this is easy. Just sign into your ftp program and upload it. If you are using Blogger, it can be a little more tricky. You will need to register with a file storage service.
I’ve found Dropbox to be pretty easy to use. As you install the program on your computer it will create some folders for you. The main folder will be called Dropbox, and it will automatically create a subfolder in there called Public. Drag and drop your PDF into the public folder.
- To find the link to give your fans, open dropbox.com in any browser.
- Click on your public folder, and then click the drop down arrow all the way to the right of your pdf document.
- Click “copy public link” and then click copy to clipboard.
- Paste the link either in a notepad file or a word processor file so you know where to find it when you need it.
Install the Facebook tab. Visit the application page. It should walk you through adding it to your page.
- After you click Get Started, allow the application.
- Choose which page to add it to.
- Next it will ask you to install the app. Click on the link it provides you at the top of the page.
- Click the button to add the app to the page.
The next step is to set up your content. There will be 2 links after you click to edit the tab content. The default and the reveal.
The default is where you will add your “like us for access to this awesome 
download” text. Reveal is where you will add the link to the download. In case you didn’t know a link in html is written like this <a href=”this is where the link to the download goes that you copied earlier”>My Download</a>. Make sure you click save when you are done.
When someone visits your Facebook page, you want it to be the first thing they see so you need to make it your landing page.
Visit your page and click the edit info link at the top next to the page name. Choose manage permissions on the left site and change the default landing page to your new tab page.
To edit the name of the tab select Apps from the left side, find the My Tab and click edit settings. Type the name for the tab such as “FREE gift.”
Sit back and admire your work! Phew! Sorry for the length, promise most of my tutorials won’t be that long! Have fun!
Sarah is a diehard Microsoft and Dell fangirl and former IT Manager, who now spends her busy days taking care of two small children, consulting with technology companies and sparring with Apple fans.
Sarah helps bloggers resolve site and server issues and blogs at Tech for Moms and Organized Mom.
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Editor at Tauni Everett
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I was just thinking that it would be fun to do a seasonal sort of something. Maybe a seasonal craft pattern, or a discount…There are so many options here!
Great Tutorial and information! I cannot wait to try it all out.
Thanks for the great information….who knew? I need to implement this asap!
Amy,
You have so many great patterns you could re-purpose and offer. This should be an easy one for you! I can’t wait to see if you decide to implement this…
xoxo
Tauni
This is on my weekend to-do this, for reals! Thanks for sharing.
Whoppie Andi! It’s a project on my to do list too! Be sure to send me a link to your page on Twitter @taunitweets so that I can go check it out! I’d love to even feature a link on our FB page if you don’t mind 🙂
xoxo
Tauni
Okay, I did this to my Lunch It Punch It fan page. I’m nervous it doesn’t work or I have typos since it is late at night. I tweeted you Tauni.
I’ll work on my other blog this weekend…
Sarah, is the only way to add an image to upgrade and pay for the My Tab service? I tried to upload and put the html in for an image but it said something about 20% not being able to see because either it was or wasn’t https (this is the part where I hear Charlie Brown’s teacher talking :/).
I’m cool with the text, even if it’s a little plain, but I was curious about a graphic rich greeting 🙂
Andi, I think Sarah will weigh in when she gets a chance, but I thought I would take a stab at answering your question…I am not sure what site you’re using to store your image, but you would need to find one that will support SSL (https) service to get around the security issue some of your potential fans (about 20%) might see. You could do a Google search for SSL free image hosting. Does that make sense?
xoxo,
Tauni
I typically will upload images to my own site and then just reference them in the code. The only issue is that yes if the person is browsing the page as “https” they will not see the images. I’d say the majority of the population are not using https for browsing, so although I’d include text, I’d say most of your readers will be able to see the images. You can even include text at the bottom stating that “if you can’t see the images you may need to browse Facebook without the https setting.”
Sarah, thanks so much for the information. I am sooo glad that you are here!
Hi Sarah,
I’ve tried doing this, but every time I paste the link in the tab content ( typed as My Download ), Facebook deletes whatever I have typed when I hit save!
Is it possible that Facebook does not allow people to insert links anymore?
Thanks!
Sarah
Sarah,
It may be because of the FB changes? I will check with Sarah.
Apparently I am retarded. I tried to do this and I don’t think I got the job done… well, I know I didn’t. Maybe it has something to do with the new facebook?? Anyone able to help me figure this out? I have my free “gift” ready to go. I would love to get this fab idea implemented! =)
I am trying to do this with the new facebook, too, and it seems to have different buttons than are described above….hopefully someone will see this and help us!
Wouldn’t you know that FB is making some changes to pages on October 1 that could have a major impact on this app. Hold off for a week and let’s see how things shake down…
Sorry for being MIA everyone, someone is hiring me to do this, so I’ll be able to see where the tutorial is off and edit! I’ll let you know what I figure out!
Awesome Sarah! Thanks for the update!
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awesome post.thanx a lot.